21 percent of water samples taken have unacceptable levels of bacteria because of problems like discharges from aging and failing sewage treatment plants, sewage overflows caused by rain and poorly maintained septic systems.

This comes at a time when the Hudson is attracting more and more people to swim, boat, and fish in its questionably clear waters. If the water stays poopy, say the experts, people will want to enjoy it less. True, true.

A bright-ish note: New York City is actually better off than further upstate because Albany’s sewage plants don’t disinfect, and we’re closer to the Atlantic Ocean, which helps dilute the problem. Except when it rains, and then “unacceptable water samples increased more than threefold — from 9 percent to 32 percent — in wet weather compared with dry weather, the report said.”